The easiest way to spot a legalist is they are Not at rest with Who God Is, What He has Finished or the position that His Finished work puts them in! The legalist is still facing the wrath of God based on their works that for the GraceFull was nailed to the cross of Christ!

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:17

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” – Romans 1:18-19

When the Bible or the individual letters and books of the Bible were written they were a collection of letters and stories collected over time and somehow (God How) all survived when at one time there were only two copies of the Bible that we know of in existence on earth.

I am not here to debate the validity of the Bible but merely point out that in The Bible we see a Beautiful Love letter – IF – we read it as such.

In the above passage we hear of the “wrath of God” but that “wrath” is for anyone who suppress “The Truth” (Jesus Is The Truth) and instead of The Truth they choose the falsity of wickedness.

Remember the message of Jesus is Very clear – “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” “Love one another and thus fulfill ALL the law and the prophets!” The opposite of His message would be, “don’t rest in Him, rest in your own efforts” or “do whatever makes you feel good without regard to anyone else” – wickedness is not so much an action as an attitude!

The message that is carried over from vs. 17 here is “Rest in Faith in Christ Alone” – do not rest in your works and do not look to any other source for pain relief because you won’t find anything but pain in any of them.

Jesus made God’s plan plain – “Love fulfills law” “Believe in the name of the Son of God and rest in Faith in Him” – everything else ends rather badly – for example just pursuing sexual satisfaction for my pleasure or pain relief will alienate me from love that is not based on my performance. Pursuing money will alienate me from just enjoying this moment and all the beauty around me.

If you want to Not face a life of trouble (God’s Wrath) – REST in HIM! He Freely grants Peace beyond ALL understanding!